Quinta do Noval - Vintage Nacional 2023
Quinta do Noval is a Port wine house established in 1715, and one of the few to be located in the heart of the Douro Valley , instead of Villa Nova de Gaia, Portugal . It takes its name from its most famous vineyard, in this case Quinta do Noval. The majority of the vineyards in the quinta are planted with the noble Douro grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Cao. The grapes are grown on a mixture of schist and clay soils, but the presence of rocks around the vines makes harvesting difficult for winemakers. A large-scale replanting of the vineyards was undertaken in 1994, and each plot was planted with a variety that best suited the soil, altitude and exposure. At the heart of the Quinta do Noval vineyard lies a small plot of ungrafted vines that were fortunate enough to avoid the devastation of phylloxera in the 19th century. Since 1993, the managing director has been Christian Seely , who is also responsible for numerous vineyards across Europe within the AXA Millesimes group. This investment group also owns estates such as Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Pibran, and Disznókő in Hungary.
Nacional Vintage is produced from several grape varieties, not just Touriga Nacional, as its name might suggest. These grape varieties are among the noblest in the Douro Valley: Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão, and Tinta Roriz . The grapes are foot-trodden to obtain the must, then, during fermentation, in the lagares, the Quinta's traditional stone vats. Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage is aged for 18 months in an old oak barrel with a capacity of 2,500 liters.
Grape varieties: Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão, Tinta Roriz
"A rare Port, from exceptional vines, which embodies the pinnacle of Quinta do Noval's expertise."
